Plaster lath



Jan. 22, 1929. Y 1,699,967

w. D. HICKS PLAS'TER LATH 4 Original Filed March 1, 1926 nrney,

Patented Jan.'22, 1929.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM D. HICKS, OF INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA.

PLASTER LATH.

Application filed March 1, 1926, Serial No; 91,449. Renewed June 18, 1928.

This invention relates to a lath panel for the reception of plaster, stucco and similar wall-forming compositions and more particularly pertains to that type of lath embodying wire strands permanently affixed to back ing sheets and of the character set forth in my co-pending applications for United States Letters Patent asfollows: Serial N 0. (551,573, filed July 24, 1923; Serial Number 19,614l, filed March 31, 1925'; and Serial No. 61,035, filed October 10, 1925.

An object of the invention is to provide a lath of the above character in which the wire strands are so formed as to be spaced, in major part, from the surface of the backing sheet to which the wire structure is attached, whereby the wires will be disposed well within the plaster applied to the lath so as to effectively reinforce'the plaster and securely retain it in place.

Another object is to provide a lath panel of the type specified which is so designed that the wire strands may be formed, arranged and connected together as to provide a substantially netlike or reticulated structure during the course of assembling the wire on the backing sheet.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the present invention resides generally in an improved construction for effecting connection between a length of wire which is of general zig-zag form and a pair of parallel wires extending longitudinally of the zig-zag Wire with the zigzag lengths of wire extending obliquely therebetween, and. further resides in an improved form of bends provided in the parallel wires which seat on the backing sheet to facilitate connecting the bends to the backing sheetwith staples.

The invention further resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and rangement of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated by way of example inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the lath structure;

Fig. 2 is a view in section as seen on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in section as seen on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of applying the lath panel to a supporting frame.

Referring to the drawings more specifically, A indicates a backing sheet which is preferably flexible and which may be formed of paper or other suitable fibrous material and B indicates generally the wire structure which is aflixed to the backing sheet to form the completed lath panel.

T 1e wire structure comprises a series'of parallel wires 5, which extend transversely of the backing sheet and suitably spaced apart, each of which wires is formed with a series of spaced downturned bends 6 which seat on the backing sheet and are secured to the latter by means of staples 7 or other suitable fastenings whereby the lengths 8 of the wires 5 extending between the bends 6 are-positioned in spaced relation to the backing sheet.

The bends 6 are substantially U shaped and embody leg por tions a and b and a connecting portion 0; the leg portions 0; and?) being turned downwardly from the length 8 at 0pposite inclines relatively to each other and transversely of the general length of the wire 5, so that the connecting portion 0 will extend obliquely in relation to the length of the wire. This construction of the bends facilitates positioning the parallel wires with the connecting p ortionc of the bends seating on the backting sheet, as the opposite end portions of the connecting portion 0 of the bends in. extending beyond the plane of the opposite sides of the wireswill stabilize the latter when positioning them on the backing sheet preparatory to driving the staples 7. In other words, the oblique portions 0 of the bend serve to minin'iize lateral rocking of theiwires in relation to the backing sheet during the course of affixing them to the backing sheet.

interposed between each pair of adjacent wires 5 is a wire 9 of general zig-zag formation; each wire 9 being arranged with the apices of the zig-zag portions thereof projecting beyond the adjacent pair of wires 5. The apices portions of the zigzag wires are 'bent to form hooks 10 which pass around the wires 5 and thereby effect engagement between the zig-zag wires and the parallel wires at points intermediate the bends 6 in the latter. The zigzag wires on opposite sides of a ire 5' are arranged so that their apices overlap and interconnect when bent into hooked engagement with the wire 5, as particnlarly shown in Fig. 1. 1

It will now be observed that the zigzag wires 9 are supported entirely by the wires 5 and are maintained in spaced relation to the backing sheet A with the oblique portions of the zigzag wires cooperating with the ties formed by the lengths 8 of the wires 5 to form a truss-like structure.

After thus forming the combined wire structure and backing sheet, it is coated with a suitable waterproofing material indicated at C which material is of fluid character and which is applied by submerging the structure therein and is of such character as to harden when dry and has such cemcntitious or adhesive qualities as to cooperate with the stapl s 7, in effecting a bond between thewire structure and the backing sheet. This coating being applied to the wire structure, embeds the hooked connections 10 of the wires 9 with the wires 5 in the body of adhesive material s as to effectively inhibit shifting of the hooks 1O longitudinally of the wires 5, thereby stabilizing the lath structure. Furthermore, the combined thicknesses of the overlapping wires formed by the interengaging hooks 10 and the wire 5 together with the adhesive coating thereon, forms the lath board at intervals with thickened portions that are spaced from the backing sheet and serve to afford a substantial bond for the plaster coating applied to the panel.

l/Vhile the adhesive waterproof coating is in a fluid or semi-fluid state a coating of granular or fragmentary material of moisture absorptive character is applied thereto, as indicated at D; this material being applied to both sides of the backing sheet and serving with the coating C to stiffen the backing sheet and at the same time render it impervious to penetration by moisture. The absorptive material D on the outer face of the backing sheet affords a bondfor plaster and provides thenecessary suction to hold fresh plaster in place when initially applied and permits use of the lath overhead. By applying the material D to the back of the backing sheet, panels of the lath may be stacked without adjacent panels adhering togcther. The material I) preferably consists of kieselguhr otherwise known as diatomaceous earth but may comprise any fragmentary material, either granular or fibrous or both having the requisite quality of absorptiveness. The adhesive structure preferably comprises tar or asphaltum.

The lath panels thus formed are comparatively light in weight in proportion to their areas and possess such flexibility that they may be bent to form either inwardly or outwardly curved surfaces.

It will be understoodthat in applying the fragmentary material I) to the lath board structure, while the adhesive coating on the backing sheet and wire structure is soft, particles of the material will also adhere to the Wire thereby increasing the thickness of the wire structure and affording a moisture absorptive surface thereon thereby increasing the bonding qualities thereof. This coating on the wire structure is particularly shown 011 the right hand side of Fig. 2, it being'omitted from Figs. 1 and 3 for the purpose of clearness in illustration.

The.non-absorptive adhesive coating serves to stiffen and reinforce the backing sheet, and so firmly anchors the connection between the wire structure and the backing sheet as to resist separation thereof under pressures iniposed on the backing sheet when applying plaster thereto and permits the finishing of the foundation or base coat of plaster on the lath to the required thickness in a single operation, thereby obviating the necessity of building up the foundation or base coat in two layers as now commonly practiced in plastered wall construction, thereby effecting a great saving in time and labor in erecting a plastered wall.

I claim 1. A lath structure comprising a backing sheet, a series of spaced wires extending transversely of said sheet having spacing bends formed therein seating on tne facing sheet, said wires being arranged with the portions thereof extending between the bends spaced from the backing sheet, means securing the bends to the backing sheet, zigzag wires arranged between the adjacent wires having their apices projectii'lg beyond the wires and bent into hooked engagement therewith.

2. A lath structure comprising a backing sheet, a series of spaced wires extending transversely of said sheet having spacing bends formed therein seating on the facing sheet, said wires being arranged with the pertions thereof extendii'ig between the bends spaced from the backing sheet, means securing the bends to the backing sheet, zigzag wires arranged between the adjacent wires having their apices projecting beyond the wires and bent into hooked engagement therewith; the zig-zagwires on opposite sides of a transverse wire being arranged with their hooked apices intcrengaging on opposite sides of the transverse wires.

3. A lath structure comprising a backing sheet, a series of spaced wires extending transversely of said sheet having spacing bends formed therein seating on thefacing sheet, said wires being arranged with the portions thereof extending between the bends spaced from the lOtlCkihg sheet, means securing the bends to the backing sheet, Zig-Zag wires arranged between the adjacent parallel wires having their apices projecting beyond the parallel wires and bent into hooked ongagement therewith, an adhesive waterproof coating on said backing sheet and wires, and an absorptive fragmentary material adhered to said coating on the backing sheet and wires.

l In a lath structure of the character described, a backing sheet, a series of spaced parallel Wires extending traiisversely of said sheet, wires extending between said transverse wires and connected thereto, said transverse wires being formed with Ushaped bends having connecting portions seating on said backing sheet with said connecting portions extending obliquely in relation to the length of said transverse wires, and means efiecting engagement between said bends and backing sheet.

5. In a lath structure, a series of spaced wires, spaced wires extending between and connected to said first named wires, certain of said wires being formed with U-shaped bends having connecting portions thereof eX- tending obliquely in relation to the length of the wires in which said bends are formed.

6. In a lath structure, a series of spaced wires, spaced wires extending between and connected to said first named wires, certain of said Wires being formed with U- shaped bends having connecting portions other and extending parallel across said backing sheet, diagonal wires connecting said spaced wires and forming a ineshlike structure, bends in the spaced wires between the points of intersection with the diagonal wires, said bends being- 0 set from the plane of the wire and resting against the backing sheet to uniformly space the wire therefrom and means for securing said offset portions to the backing sheet.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature.

WILLIAM D. HICKS. 

